Weather shield



A Oct. 16, 1928. 1,688,241

R. s. LAFO'ON WEATHER SHIELD Filed OCT.. 24, 1927 (J n n INVENTOR E s:ATTORNEY v-nTN s WW2 datenteol Get. 16, i928.

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RICHARDS. LAFON, OF RECHMGND, VXRGNIA.

Application filed October 2li, i327. Sera?. No 228,428.

rlhis invention relates to a weather shield for freight cars, thegeneral objectof the invention being to provide a rooting for the spacebetween the doors of two box cars placed side by side or between a carand a station or warehouse so as to prevent rain or snow from fallingupon the gang boards, from where it would find its way into the cars,and the rooting also protects persons passing between the cars.

Another object of the invention is to so form the shield that it can beadjusted to properly bridge the space between cars of various types,with means whereby the shield can be easily and quickly putin place andtaken down. I

A still further object-is to provide the device with a centrallyarranged gutter for direct-ing the water falling upon the device to thesides thereof.

This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

ln describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure lis a diagrammatic view showing the invention in use between two cars andbetween a car and a station.

Figure 2 is a Iplan view ofthe device.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is adetail view showing the eye bolt at the end of one of .therods, to which the cord or cable is attached.

As shown in these views, the device is formed of a sheet l of canvas orthe like having a rod 2 placed in ahem 3 at each side edge of the deviceand a gutter 4i at the center of thedevice for directing water fallingon the sheet off the ends thereof. The device also includes a cord orcable 5 fastened to each end of each rod 2 and having rings 6 attachedthereto for engaging hooks or other fastening means in the car orfreight house. As shown in Figure l, the cords are so fastened that thesheet passes through the door openings and slopes. downwardly from eachedge to the center so that rain or snow will fall onthe sheet and theresultant water will flow down the sloping portions into the gutterwhich will direct it off the ends of the sheet. Thus rain or snow willbe prevented fron'ii falling` upon the gang boards between the cars fromwhere the rain or snow water would find its way into the cars and thedevice will also protect persons passing between the carsand between acar and the station or freight house.

By providing a plurality of rings 6 on each cable, the parts can be soadjusted whenV fastened in the cars that the device will be properlypositioned even when placed between two cars of different types orstyles.

in order to provide means for further adjustnient, l place a hook 7adjacent each corner of the sheet, so that by rolling a portion of thesheet on each roe and then fastening the hooks in the eyelets 8 on theends of the rods, the sheet will be held with parts rolled upon the rodsand thus the width of the sheet will be shortened so that it can be usedbetween cars, the sides of which come close together. l attach the cords5 to these eyelets 8. f

l prefer to form the gutter e of two strips 9 of metal or the like whichare of gutter shape and which are placed one above and the other belowthe central portion of the sheet l and then the parts are rivetedtogether, as shown at l0.

From the foregoing it will be seen that l have provided simple means forcovering the space between freight cars and the like, above thedoorways, so as to prevent rain or snow entering the space at thedoorways which not only protects persons passing between the cars, butalso prevents rain or snow falling upon the gang boards. rl`he devicecan easily be put in place and removerL and it can be adjusted to suitcars of different types and styles. Y

lt is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

- lt is to be runderstood that l may malte changes in the constructionand in the com.- bination and arrangement of the several parts, providedthat such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

l. fri weather shield for bridging the space between two structures,comprising a fiexible sheet sloping from its edges to its center, a

kgutter of rigid material at the center of the sheet, rods connectedwith the edges of the sheet and flexible members connected with the endsof the rods and adapted to be attached to parts of the structures.

2. fr weather shield for bridging the space betweentwo structures,comprisinga. flexible sheet slopingfrom its edges to its center, agutter of rigidmaterial at the center of the sheet, rods connected withthe edges of the sheet,- a cableconnected with each end of each rod,spaced rings on each cable, a hook adjacent each corner of the sheet atthe end thereof and means on the ends or" the rods for engaging thehooks when portions ofthe Lessen sheet have been rolled upon the rods tode crease the Width of the sheet.

3. In combination with a pair of structures spaced apart, a memberextending over the upper part of the space, means for connecting theedges of the member to interior parts of the structures and a guttercarried by the member' and arranged between the structures 20 with theparte of the member at the sides of the gutter sloping downwardly to thegutter. In testimony whereof affix my signature.

RICHARD S. LAFOON.

